SPARTANBURG, S.C. – UNCG’s Lindsay Thomas and Elon’s Caitlin O’Shea have been named the Southern Conference Softball Player and Pitcher of the Week, respectively, the league announced Monday. The selections are made by the Southern Conference office.

Thomas hit a blistering .667 in five games for UNCG last week to earn Player of the Week honors. She bounced back from an 0-for-2 outing in game one of a doubleheader against Charlotte to go 3-for-4 with an RBI and three runs scored to help the Spartans to a 13-1 win. Thomas racked up three more hits and posted two home runs and five RBIs in UNCG’s series opener against Appalachian State, scoring four runs and walking twice in the 11-5 win. In game two, Thomas pounded out four hits, scored four runs and added an RBI in UNCG’s 20-19 victory. Thomas capped her week with two more hits and a run scored in a 7-0 win to clinch the sweep for the Spartans. She finished the week with 12 hits in 18 at bats and seven RBIs to help the Spartans go 4-1 in their five contests.

O’Shea was selected as Pitcher of the Week after going 2-0 and picking up a save in three appearances for Elon last week. She pitched three scoreless innings to earn the save in a 7-2 win over North Carolina Central on Wednesday, surrendering just two hits. O’Shea threw a complete game in Elon’s 6-1 win over Samford on Saturday, striking out two and allowing just one earned run on six hits. In the series finale against the Bulldogs, O’Shea tossed three innings of scoreless, one-hit ball to help push the Phoenix to a 3-2 win. O’Shea held a 0.54 ERA in 13 innings pitched on the week, allowing just one earned run and nine hits. O’Shea’s save was the third of her career, placing her in a tie for fourth place on Elon’s career list. Her two saves this season are the most by an Elon pitcher since her sister Erin O’Shea had two in 2012.

­Also receiving nominations for Player of the Week: Appalachian State’s Ashley Seering, Elon’s Carleigh Nester, Georgia Southern’s Taylor Rogers and Samford’s Megan Dowdy.

Also nominated for Pitcher of the Week: Furman’s Lauren Collier, Georgia Southern’s Sarah Purvis and UNCG’s Raeanne Hanks.

2014 Softball Player of the Week
Feb. 10             Emily Cameron, Elon
Feb. 17             Sam Taylor, Chattanooga
Feb. 24             Abby Adams, Samford
March 3            Carleigh Nestor, Elon
March 11           Anyssa Robles, Chattanooga
March 17           Nicole Thomas, UNCG
March 24           Kara Salvo, Western Carolina
March 31           Katelyn Bedwell, UNCG
April 7               Ambree Mueller, Furman
April 14             Dani Heichen, Appalachian State
April 21             Katelyn Bedwell, UNCG
April 28             Lindsay Thomas, UNCG

2014 Softball Pitcher of the Week
Feb. 10             Sarah Purvis, Georgia Southern
Feb. 17             Sarah Purvis, Georgia Southern
Feb. 24             Shelby Parker, Furman
March 3            Sarah Purvis, Georgia Southern
March 11           Sarah Purvis, Georgia Southern
March 17           Lauren Collier, Furman
March 24           Taylor Deason, Chattanooga
March 31           Mollie Hanson, Samford
April 7               Sarah Purvis, Georgia Southern
April 14             Lauren Collier, Furman
April 21             Katie Henderson, Chattanooga
April 28             Caitlin O’Shea, Elon